Straight from the pages of X-MEN GOLD…to the surprise of everyone, the Marvel Universe’s hottest couple has finally tied the knot! In their extraordinary lives, they’ve faced nearly every challenge imaginable, but how will they fare against former flames making trouble? An entire galaxy in jeopardy? You want it? We got it, as Kelly Thompson (HAWKEYE, ROGUE & GAMBIT) and Oscar Bazaldua (SPIDER-MAN, STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE) bring you the tantalizing tale of a modern marriage…X-MEN STYLE!

PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
MR. & MRS. X #1

Very recently Kitty Pryde and Collosus, two long time lovers in the X-Family, were about to finally say “I do” on their big day. Of course, in typical X-Men fashion, they did not but the day wasn’t a complete waste. Another set of more modern X-Lovers stood in their place and became husband and wife…Gambit and Rogue!

Writing:

Kelly Thompson is no stranger to comics and to female characters at that. Well known for her work on IDW’s Jem and the Holograms, which she reimagined the whole 80s property for a modernized comic book approach. She has tackled mainly female-related characters during her time at Marvel with titles such as Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps, A-Force, Hawkeye, America, the Star Wars: Captain Phasma miniseries, as well as the Pink Ranger miniseries, ‘Pink‘ for Boom! Studios. However, she is also no stranger to Gambit & Rogue with her miniseries of the same name earlier this year.

What Thompson really brings to the table is a sense of realism. During the issue, we’re watching most of the X-women dote and help Rogue prepare for her impromptu wedding. The excitement and charm of these characters can be seen for real. I have been at my fair share of weddings and even more spur of the moment weddings and seen women in a mad rush trying to prepare the Bride for her Groom.

Also the relationship between Remy and Rogue is spot-on. It takes me back to the early days of the two of them flirting with the idea of being into one another. The wit is on par with the fun I remember from Jim Lee’s X-Men days, as well as those early 90s when the X-Men were perfect. Right down to the sexual escapades they were endulging each other with on their honeymoon above Earth in an Alpha Flight space shuttle.

The story picks up with a distress call. For those of you who are action-oriented, once Thompson motors through pages of drama and comedy, we are given some action for the final few pages. We see Gambit and Rogue take on some of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, who are trying to aprehend Cerise. This leads with Rogue being knocked out into space where she floats in the cold depth until she is teleported away and neither Gambit nor the Imperial Guard know what became of her.

She’s been beamed aboard Deadpool’s ship who wants to run off with her! As you may or may not know, Rogue and Deadpool shared a moment, shared a kiss, and probably for ten minutes had something between them until Rogue came to her senses.

Art:

Aside from the awesome Terry Dodson cover art, I think the interior is fantastic! Oscar Bazaldua is simply a talented man! Aside from his work at Marvel on the recent Spider-Man title with Miles Morales, Oscar has done a handful of work for DC such as Sinestro as well as work on Evil Dead-related comics. However, his most notable work is in adult comics and such magainzes as Heavy Metal.

This is probably why I enjoy his work on this book. His female work is amazing. He can draw a chaarcter such as Lara (X-23) and make her very attractive, yet not in a demeaning way. All his female characters have a sense of style and class, even when we see Rogue get out of bed, holding nothing but a sheet to cover her body. My heart may have skipped a beat there. It’s hard to find an artist who can draw amazing women and not over-sexualize them like most of the others.

PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:

I’m not sure if this is a miniseries or not, but if not, I cannot imagine it going on forever. Now with that said, it’s the start of a fantastic story and series! It was fun. I love married couples in comics; Peter and MJ, Lois and Clark, even the brief time they shipped Batman and Wonder Woman in the Joe Kelly run of JLA in the 90s. I’ve also always enjoyed Kelly Thompson’s humor. Like with her Jem series, she can appreciate and have fun with the subject matter, yet respecting and making sure to keep to the core of what she’s working with. NOT once do Gambit and Rogue not seem like their original selves, which I have grown up with since I was a child; since first seeing her in Avengers Annual 10 and he in Uncanny X-Men 266.

PopCultHQ’s Rating:

4 out of 5 Stars

PopCultHQ Rating – 4 Stars

Nothing is rarely ever a 5.0, and most usually never coming out of the gate, but this book comes out swinging and takes NO prisoners along the way. It’s smart, funny, educated, sexy as Hell and, most of all, true to the main characters. Which is what X-Men books have been lacking in recent years: true-to-form characters.

Well worth your dime, you won’t be disappointed.

MR. & MRS. X #1 can be purchased on ComiXology and availableat your local comic shop and online retailers on Wednesday, July 25th!